A Perfect Day for us

​Today was a perfect day. It was not full of luxury or perfection, but busy with Sean and I working well together to solve problems, make life better plus some indulgences. 

We got a sorta sick Skitty off to the vet and new meds because we don’t want Peter to have to deal with a potentially sicker Skitty while we’re out of town. 

We got a new bed unpacked for Peter for his college condo and got a pile of random charger cords and ear buds sorted and weeded out. And trash thrown out and his room arranged better.

We met with a handyman who seemed efficient and knowledgeable to get a price quote on little things to fix around  the condo it up. And eventually replace counters and sinks and mirrors and lights.

Then we had a lovely small healthy lunch. And pedicure for Sean and manicure for me. I got a blue called Summer Sky. 

Then we leisurely went to the massage place and both got 90 minute massages that were blissful. I had to rush a little to pick up Skitty on time, but we made it and got Skitty home.

We had dinner at our face sushi place, then ice cream at the Palestinian ice screamin place. 

Then Sean remembered he wanted stuff at Curaleaf which was next to a comic book/game store. And we learned about their other store in Lakeland. We bought some small merchandise to show our support.

Now we’re back at condo, have fed a hungry Skitty and will settle into some books and an early bedtime.

Multitasking

 I have been attempting to:

*get rid of a desk
*get rid of some unwanted cat food and a cat tower
*get a new prescription filled
*pay a few bills
*do IT security training for work
*clear up a speeding ticket I got earlier this year
*coordinate with a handyman to install more shelving in this house
*pre-plan a train trip to NC
*get folks interested in a day trip to St Pete
*make a loaf of sourdough bread
*coordinate an investment with Sean
*start a new jigsaw puzzle because I am insane that way

Hoo doggie, yes, that is a LOT when I see it all written down! No wonder I have not been successful at some of these. Today. I have not been successful at them today. But a few are done, and a few are started. and that is good enough.

Tonight is trivia night!

Back to Tampa this week

 I have not been journaling here much. Been quite distracted.

Catching up:

2/18, I went to visit Nana who had a cardiology appointment she was nervous about. Horrible traffic -- and I got a speeding ticket. The doctor was so delayed that even though I was an hour late, I still was able to attend the appointment with her. 

My story should've been the dramatic traffic story of the day for our family. But then that evening, Peter was in a bad car crash. He didn't go to the hospital, but the car was totaled and looked like it.

So we have been dealing with that. He's got back pain and chiropractor appointments in Lakeland, which is tough when he's in Tampa 4 days a week. And now I come up to Tampa for 3-4 days a week to drive him -- it's good cause i focus on work well here -- and he ubers if I am not available.

So today, I got up here, and baked off a loaf of bread I started in Tampa. And it smells amazing -- lots of extra parmesan in it. I've started the dishwasher. And unpacked. 

We are still dealing with last few threads of the house sale. Got a reimbursement check from insuarnce company. It's more than $5000 so I have to go to the bank. I really need to transfer some money to Fidelity for a CD ladder. Gotta move that up the priorities.

Went on a terrific walking tour of Lakeland, and learned lots of history and learned about old buildings, and got a good map of Lakeland to hang on the wall. 

And Sean and I finally biked the Ft Fraser trail along 98. And it was fantastic. And my brain is already planning more trips to Brooksville and Amelia Island and Sebring. 

Daily (when I remember) updates

​Do something today to make tomorrow better 

• I packed for 5 days at the condo — remembering meds, undies, chargers, both laptops, paperwork.
  
• I got Peter’s drivers ed course fixed.
  
• I knocked off two parts of my drivers ed course already. 
  
• I canceled cat food deliveries as we have too much
• I cleared out some storage on my phone.

My life is awesome photo — mediocre photo but great memory. We had a fantastic ride today down Ft Fraser Trail. So meditative to be off screens. So nice to spend time with Sean. Great exercise. 

Also more cheese makes sourdough bread better!

Small Joy: returning things we didn’t need and getting back $50+! 

What annoying problem can we improve: reminding Sean that if we put cat and dog food cans back in exact same spot in fridge, then we can always find them. And teaching him to give Skitty her gut medicine. 

Things I did today to improve my life:

​Things I did today to improve my life:

• -Return $50 of stuff we didn’t need
  
• -Did not spend money at flea market
  
• -Biked 16 miles
  
• -Learned new ways around our town 
  
• -Scheduled a nap for after lunch! 
  

#lifeisgood

Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling

​Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling 

1. Walked around town with urban planners learning how they preserved a historic area 

2. Ate meatballs at farmers market 

3. Worked

4. Napped 

5. Coordinated upcoming visit with in-laws 

6. Shopped at Aldi with hubby

7. Made sourdough bread 

My life is awesome photo

​

My life is awesome photo

​

Catch up

​What I did today instead of Doom Scrolling (or watching the Idiot speak in TV):

• *Made pancakes
  
• *Prepped tax returns 
  
• *Changed sheets on the bed and took a nap
  
• *Watched a couple episodes of Survivor 35 (from 9 years ago) 
  
• *Downloaded and started book 3 of Dungeon Crawler Carl series
  

What made you happy this week 

• Peter surviving a car crash. 
  
• Sean taking lead in insurance and getting Peter. 
  
• Peter working through his emotions quickly — tough surly and manipulative for a couple days. 
  
• How much Peter loves school. 
  
• A couple days with friends playing games and not thinking about everything else. 
• Finishing the book Remarkable Bright Creatures.
  

Been awhile since I posted. I was cutting back severely on screen time. Work has ramped up. Peter crashed and the resulting emotional freak out from him, plus dealing with car and insurance (handled 95% by Sean, thank god) kinda got in the way. 

What made me happy this week?

​What made me happy this week?

• getting house better organized: garage, linen closet, bedside shelves, kitchen
  
• getting a bunch of personal tax stuff taken care of
  
• getting to know our new town better: thrift store shopping, library event, theater, walks around two different lakes
  
• anticipation of more boardgaming finally again: got set up once again to play Terraforming Mars online, received invitations to two in-person gaming events, and looking forward to seeing old friends at an event next weekend
• Time with Peter
• Time with Sean
• Earning more money

What made you happy this week

​What made you happy this week 

• Spending time with Sean and Peter and Nana
  
• Unpacking 
  
• Paying off mortgage 
  
• Doing relaxing things this weekend 
• Fresh bread 

Think of a good thing about 5 people you know

​1. Sean is sweet and loving and does his best to take care of me

2. Warren is efficient and smart and humble.

3. Heidi is brave and smart and courageous and inspiring and true ringer values.

4. Jerry is helpful and a good loyal friend.

5. Suzi is patient, and good with compliments, and professional, and smart. 

Accomplishments today

1. I went through 5 banker boxes, two smaller plastic boxes, and two bags of bathroom stuff. I filled a small trash can. I filled one banker box up with stuff we’re giving away on Sunday. The rest I’ll put away tomorrow or Saturday. I suspect there’s more toiletries somewhere. But this is majority of it. Bathrooms finally unpacked.
   
2. Hung up 5 pieces of art. Brought in most of the art from garage and figured out where it will be hung up.
3. Did not completely meltdown during last final agonizing steps of closing in selling Stonecreek Street. The idiot buyers sent us an extra $1000 for some reason. We wait until morning to see if we get our money or if the whole thing was a scam. Never ever ever doing a closing remotely again. Maybe just never moving again.
4. Guided Peter from afar. Trying to be at peace with his moods. 
5. Let Sean handle his mom’s birthday gift, the new owners at the gate, Peter and buying new shirts. It feels good.

Today

​I am sitting outside, enjoying the birds and the eventual sunset. It is 54°, and feels like 47. I’m wearing a sweater and a turtleneck and have a blanket over me. But I doubt I will last long enough to see the sunset. It is fucking cold.

Also I ordered a bird feeder and birdseed — first I researched. What is the appropriate kind for Central Florida – this will hang on the hook that the prior owners left us.

We certainly have more bird activity in this backyard. Then we did the old one. There’s a little tiny, cute bird that hangs on our backyard sometimes. And lately, I have been leaving the screen door open to make it easier for Luna to get out, and yesterday the little bird was inside the porch. But he figured his way out again.

I will confess I have not been walking Luna. But she does not seem to be outside either. She’s not even out here for the sunset right now.

I miss Peter & Sean. I’ve done some unpacking. I made a little progress in the garage even! I’ve actually been working for CRI for a change too. Plus a ridiculous number of doctors appointments. I certainly not been eating regularly nor sleeping enough. But that’s cause I’m an idiot when Sean is not around.

Meanwhile I repaired  the decapitated  flamingo

I’ve had white wine and Nilla wafers and Survivor… I’m totally relaxed.

Earlier today, I donated a big coat, some jackets and sweaters and scarves to a group that gives them to homeless people.

What made you happy this week

​Building a cabinet with Sean. Going to the park with Nora. Getting through Peter’s first week back to school this semester. Organizing my baking stuff. Sunsets. Bike ride. Happy dog. 

A good weekend

​Really pleased with this delightful little cabinet in our tiny laundry room. It holds all that needs to be held and does so attractively. 

It’s been a good weekend of little chores slowly pulling the house together: hung up a TV, put up some small hooks, 2 smoke detectors, organized the pantry and the baking area — still so excited the kitchen is so big it has a dedicated baking area!! — unpacked a half dozen boxes, update address with a few more places, biked around our neighborhood again. Nothing rushed, plenty of downtime too. Busy couple weeks ahead so nice to toddle around the house, making slight improvements, in between naps, laundry, visiting with Nora, and dog walks. 

Life is good

 Not getting much work. But Peter is doing great. I am drinking wine, eating cheese, listening to 80s hits, and playing board games online.

What made you happy this week

​What made me happy this week 

• A very successful Flamingocon
  
• Hanging out with Mike May
  
• Being in tune with Sean all weekend
  
• Seeing Peter eager for a new semester
  
• Getting fence approved 
  
• Getting mortgage issue fixed 
  
• Sunsets
• Sourdough
• Dinner with Jon and Nora

Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling

​Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling 

1. Fixed a mistake
2. Canceled duplicate internet
3. Chose a D&D race and class for every workman who’s been in our house this month inspired by the obvious dwarf/wizard electrician who came today 
4. Recognized I’d reached limits of my stress tolerance and laid down for an hour 
5. Begrudgingly took training on AI program being foisted on us by employer 
6. Bought four wee liquor bottles
7. Created a new family birthday tradition to celebrate the celebrant’s accomplishments of the year
8. Built the perfect sized table and created a “landing spot” for foyer
9. Learned a lot more about solar panels and learned how much more I have to learn 
10. Read first two chapters of The Count of Monte Cristo 

My day

Got up early to finish some work I’d promised. It took longer than I expected, but I was also on social media and moisturizing my face and doing my hair (as much as I ever do).

Made chocolate chip pancakes. Washed all the dishes. Reloaded dishwasher and felt grateful Peter had emptied it unbidden yesterday.

Took cat out on balcony to explore.

Added groceries to grocery list and tasks to To Do list, including wash sliding glass door and fix broken blind.

Looked up events at local library — was reminded I need a library card! So added that to errands today. And made brunch plans with Kim & Stephan for Sunday. And emailed off info to register car with condo management. Set up printer on WiFi too. All while playing games in Board Game Arena and eating lunch.

Helped Peter (finally) order his books. Took in a big box from Amazon: Have silicone mats for baking and a comforter for Peter and a vacuum to assemble. I’m not so sure about the knife rack — it goes on wall, not on fridge.

then Skitty told me to take a nap.

I did rest awhile and gave Skitty many cuddles. Then I remembered my idea that I keep re-remembering: order from Target rather than walk all over the store. Delightful! I’ll pick up later after the movie.

Sean and I did a video call and he had me talk him through feeding his starter, Bruno.

i cleaned the sliding glass door and assembled the new vacuum while watching more Agatha Raisin.

Then Peter and I went to the Sun-Ray theater which was a blast. Shows current movies but also lots of classics and one offs. Peter is super excited because there’s a series of movies from an important Chinese director. I only went because he was excited, but I was very impressed by Chung King Express.

Then we picked up the online shopping from Target, and returned two items.

Unfortunately I did not order the food scale still! I don’t know what distracted me. So still no sourdough making. Ordering the scale now for tomorrow morning.

We set up new trash can, and put away cleaning supplies, and then the cat blessed the apartment with her first puke.

Time for bed! What a day!